Wood spurge 'Robbiae'

Sun

Partial shade to full shade; tolerates some sun where the soil does not become excessively hot and dry.

Water

Water regularly during the first growing season. Once established, it tolerates dry shade, but benefits from a deep watering during prolonged drought.

Soil

Well-drained soil, preferably enriched with leaf mould or compost; tolerates clay, chalk and root competition once established. Avoid persistently waterlogged ground.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m), eventually wider through spreading underground stems

Flowers

Spring to early summer; small flowers surrounded by conspicuous lime-yellow bracts.

Foliage

Glossy, leathery, dark green leaves clustered towards the ends of upright stems; generally evergreen, though severe cold can damage the foliage.

Growth

Moderate to fast once established

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.2 ft (0.36 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.4 ft (0.42 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

   full size

About 2 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Fast

• Water new plants deeply whenever the root zone begins to dry during their first growing season.
• Apply a thin layer of leaf mould or compost in spring, keeping it away from the stem bases.
• Avoid routine feeding; rich soil and heavy fertilising encourage excessive spread.
• Check the edges of the patch each spring and autumn, digging out unwanted rooted shoots.
• Wear waterproof gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when cutting or dividing; avoid contact with the milky sap.

Pruning. After flowering, cut spent flowering stems to ground level, leaving the fresh non-flowering shoots to provide next year's display. Remove frost-damaged or dead stems in late winter or early spring.

Late winter

Remove dead or badly frost-damaged stems, protecting your skin and eyes from the sap.

Spring

Plant or divide rooted sections, water them in well and apply a light mulch of leaf mould.

Late spring

Cut finished flowering stems to ground level without cutting away the new leafy shoots.

Summer

Water young plants during dry weather; give established patches a deep soaking if drought causes persistent wilting.

Autumn

Dig out runners that have crossed the intended planting boundary; plant new divisions while the soil is still warm.

• Mass beneath deciduous trees and shrubs to cover shaded ground with evergreen foliage.
• Combine with ferns and hellebores for contrasting leaf shapes and a lime-green spring display.
• Use in a contained shady border beside paving, where spreading shoots are easier to spot and remove.
• Plant behind spring bulbs to provide a leafy backdrop as the bulbs finish flowering.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, English country, Green on green, Traditional, Winter interest and Secret garden.

Plant it with: Hellebores, Male fern, Hart's tongue fern, Siberian bugloss, Hardy cyclamen and Snowdrops.

Wildlife: The small flowers provide accessible nectar and pollen for visiting insects. Dense evergreen patches also offer shelter for ground-dwelling invertebrates.

• Unwanted spread: underground stems can invade neighbouring plants; dig out the runners and their roots, or choose a less spreading plant for a small mixed border.
• Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a better-drained position; avoid frequent watering in winter.
• Powdery mildew: improve air circulation and water the soil during drought rather than repeatedly wetting the foliage.
• Winter leaf damage: exposed plants can develop scorched or blackened foliage; remove damaged growth in spring and choose a sheltered position.

Toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses if eaten. All parts contain irritating milky sap; ingestion can cause mouth irritation, vomiting and diarrhoea. Sap can cause substantial skin irritation and serious eye injury. Keep it away from grazing animals and seek prompt medical or veterinary advice after ingestion; eye exposure requires urgent attention.

Where it spreads. Can spread aggressively by underground stems in UK gardens and other mild temperate gardens. Keep it away from woodland edges and natural areas where it could escape, and dispose of unwanted roots securely rather than dumping them.

• Wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides)

  The typical species generally has narrower, less glossy, often hairy leaves and is less strongly spreading than var. robbiae.

• Mediterranean spurge (Euphorbia characias)

  Usually taller, with long, narrow grey-green leaves and large cylindrical flower heads; it favours sunny, well-drained sites rather than woodland shade.

• Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)

  A lower evergreen groundcover with toothed leaves and small white flower spikes, rather than lime-yellow bracts.

The name robbiae honours Mrs Robb, who brought this form from Turkey to Britain in the late nineteenth century.

Propagation. Divide established patches in spring or early autumn, taking rooted sections with healthy shoots. Division preserves this form reliably; wear waterproof gloves and eye protection when handling cut roots or stems.

Accepted botanical name

Euphorbia amygdaloides robbiae Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae is an older name for Euphorbia amygdaloides robbiae.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.